Swivel



March 31, 1953 K. H. WILCOXON 2,633,375 SWIVEL Filed Dec. 1, 1947 "lll HIIII .H.

. INVENTOR. Kenneth H.W1'.1c. ux cm ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, g 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,633,375 swrvnr. Kenneth H. Wilcoxon, alii n john, Md. sistiicaiitanetentn 1, 1947, seams; vsaoos" 1 Claim. (cl. 287-421) termite their rise 35;, ii; s'. code (i-95a; sec. 266) 1, g The present invntibl relates to improvements in swivels and more specifically to a heavyfdnty ball-bearing 'swivelffo'r transmitting; axial tension loads.

In towing, special. nautical: devices, sueh as paravans, otter Bondsman and Ini'nesweepflh' eipiip'ment', variousl'conditions of operation. are encountered wherein s'ufiicient torque is produced the underwater tow'cable to interfere with the stability and control of the towed body. I

An important objector the-invention is'to pro vide an improved'underii/at'er 's'wivel for insertion in a tow cable; or'between' he; tow cable and the object to be towed, which will turn freely while subjected to heavy'axialtensionloads; g

Another object of the invention is the'provis'ion of an improved ball -liearingv swivel. so;- constructed that the. diameter and weightof swivel required for transmitting a given axial: tension load-without failure i small wherebythe resistance to towing the swivel underwater is. minimized.

A further object is the provision of aball bearing swivel including an improved outer. .race. so constructed as to'permit removable insertion of balls in the race but not interfering with the smooth uninterrupted continuity of the racealong the normal path of travel of the balls.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which drawing,

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the improved swivel.

Figure 2 is a view of the swivel partly in central longitudinal section and partly in side elevation taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure l, the parts being shown in the relationship that exists when the swivel is not transmitting a load.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of the swivel showing the outer race construction in central longitudinal section, the parts being shown in the relationship that exists when the swivel is transmitting an axial tension load.

In the drawing, which for the purpose of illustration shows only a preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the views, numeral l5 generally designates the swivel assembly including complementary plug and socket members l6, [1. One end portion [8 of the plug member 16 is shaped to provide an eye I9 for attachment of the swivel to an underwater tow cable (not shown). Formed at the opposite end portion of the plug member is a cylindrical body 20 provided with a peripheral groove 21- constituting. aninner race for an annular series or. balls 22. A V I 7 Referring now to the socket member i7, one end. portion 23 is, shaped to provide two eyes 24, 25 permitting attachmentofthe swivel to a towed object, such as the water kite shown in U. S. Patent 2,403,036 granted to Wilcoxon and Landweber. Formedat the opposite endiportionof the greater than-the depth of the races or rooves 21 21. L The clearancespace 3H'betw'e'e'n the cylindrical bod'ygfl and the annularfiang'eZS is .006 inch, and the diameter of" the balls 22iisfe in'ch.

theinne'r race isfifty'balls; When an axiali tens'ion' load is transmitted" by th swivel, the relationship of parts is that illusesteem-Figures. Thec'entertl of'each bal12'2 will lie on a line 32 in the clearance space 30 and the load will be transmitted through each ball 22 along a line 33 defined by points 28, 29. This line 33 is disposed at an angle of approximately 30 to the longitudinal axis of the swivel.

In assembling the swivel, the plug and socket members I6, I! are disposed in telescopic relation and the balls 22 are inserted into the inner race 2! through a circular hole 34 extending between the outer race 21 and the outer periphery of the flange 26 near its base. The longitudinal axis 35 of this hole is disposed at an angle of 45 to the longitudinal axis of the swivel and intersects point 29, as shown in Figure 3. In the example shown, the hole 34 is A,, inch in diameter and extends no farther than a plane normally intersecting axis 35 at point 29, as indicated by line 36. Thus, there is left a smooth, uninterrupted path of travel along the upper margin 3'! of the ball race. Inserted in the hole 34 is a filler 38 rigidly secured in a predetermined position by a transverse taper pin 35 fitted in the wall of the flange 26. In the filler 33 is an opening having a screw-threaded wall 40 for connection with any suitable pulling tool whenever removal of the filler 38 becomes necessary. The forward end 4| of the filler is previously ground to conform to the curvature of the normally untation of the swivel while subjected to longitudinal tension loads is along the smooth uninterrupted upper margin 3'! of the ball race so that the life of the balls 22 and races 2!, 2] will tend to be prolonged.

Communicating with the clearance space 42 between the cylindrical plug body 20 and the socket base is a lubricant passageway 43 provided at its outer end with a grease fitting 44. This fitting 44 may be disposed in a recess 45 in the 1 base of the annular flange 25 whereby the exterior of the swivel is devoid of projecting parts. The presence of grease in chamber 52 will insure proper lubrication of the bearing and tend to exclude water therefrom.

Various changes may be made in the form of invention herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

In a swivel for transmitting axial tension loads, a first member including a cylindrical body, a second member including an annular flange telescopically about an end of said cylindrical body, said body and flange being generally coaxial and having facing cylindrical surfaces with a small clearance therebetween, said flange having only a single outer ball race, said body opposite said flange having only a single inner ball race, said ball races being co-axial with said body and flange, said ball races facing each other and forming arcs of circles in axial cross section, each are being less than a semi-circle, with the radius of the are approximately one-sixth greater than .4. the maximum depth of the arc, the center of the are associated with the inner ball race lying outwardly of said surface of said body, the center of the are associated with the outer ball race lying inwardly of said surface of said flange, said centers lying in an axial plane being axially displaced and lying on a line forming approximately a 30 angle with the longitudinal axis of the swivel, whereby said ball races are axially displaced in opposite directions, a plurality of balls v disposed in said races, each of said balls having a radius which is approximately threefourths of the radius of said arcs, whereby said balls normally bear only on annular marginal portions of said ball races when the swivel is transmitting axial loads, said marginal portion of each of said ball races lying opposite a deeper part of the other ball race, said flange being provided with an opening passing therethrough which intersects said outer ball race only at a portion beyond said annular marginal portion thereof, and also intersecting said cylindrical surface of said flange, the size of said opening being larger than that of said balls, whereby said balls can pass through said opening, and a filler removably fixed in a predetermined position in said opening, said filler having its inner edge shaped to conform to said outer ball race at said opening and to said cylindrical surface at said opening.

KENNETH H. WILCOXON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STJ KTES PATENTS France of 1932 

